Fixing Belt Overheating Prevention via Delayed Stop Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses with fixing devices using a fixing belt and a halogen heater, frequent sheet jamming can lead to overheating of the fixing belt, causing lubricant exhaustion and reduced belt rotation, resulting in further jamming issues due to the conventional stopping mechanism that fails to manage heat accumulation effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sensor-based system that stops the heating source and rotation of the fixing belt only after a predetermined period when a sheet jamming is detected, allowing the belt to continue rotating and preventing overheating, while also using sensors to detect sheet passage and trigger the stopping of the heating source and belt rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the fixing device stops immediately when sheet jamming is detected, then the image forming operation can be stopped quickly, but the fixing belt becomes partially overheated due to accumulated heat in the halogen heater
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continues to rotate the pressing roller for a predetermined period after detecting sheet jamming, even though the heating source is stopped. This preliminary continuous rotation prevents the fixing belt from overheating by maintaining heat distribution, thereby avoiding lubricant exhaustion while still responding quickly to the jamming condition.
2Temperature
If the pressing roller continues to rotate after sheet jamming is detected, then the fixing belt can be prevented from overheating, but the sheet jamming cannot be resolved quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continues to rotate the pressing roller for a predetermined period after detecting sheet jamming, even though the heating source is stopped. This preliminary continuous rotation prevents the fixing belt from overheating by maintaining heat distribution, thereby avoiding lubricant exhaustion while still responding quickly to the jamming condition.
3Ease of operation
If lubricant is applied between the fixing belt and pushing member to reduce friction, then the fixing belt can rotate smoothly, but the lubricant may be exhausted due to frequent overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continues to rotate the pressing roller for a predetermined period after detecting sheet jamming, even though the heating source is stopped. This preliminary continuous rotation prevents the fixing belt from overheating by maintaining heat distribution, thereby avoiding lubricant exhaustion while still responding quickly to the jamming condition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents overheating of the fixing belt, maintains smooth belt rotation, and reduces the occurrence of sheet jamming by managing heat accumulation and lubricant exhaustion, enhancing the stability and reliability of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing member (31) heated by a heating source (33)
Implementation Method 2
a pressing member (35) coming into contact with the fixing member (31) to form a pressing area (N) between the fixing member (31) and the pressing member (35)
Implementation Method 3
The fixing belt is slid with respect to the pushing member when it is driven by the pressing roller to be rotated. Generally, in order to reduce friction between the pushing member and the fixing belt, lubricant (oil or grease) is applied between the fixing belt and the pushing member.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device includes a sheet feeding device, an image forming part, a fixing device, a conveyance path, a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is disposed on the conveyance path on a downstream side of the fixing device in the conveyance direction and detects the sheet passed along the conveyance path. The second sensor is disposed on the conveyance path on an upstream side of the fixing device in a conveyance direction and detects the sheet passed along the conveyance path. The fixing device stops a driving of a heating source and stops a rotation of a fixing belt when the first sensor does not detect the sheet passing properly. The fixing device stops the driving of the heating source and stops the rotation of the fixing belt after a predetermined period when the second sensor do not detect the sheet passing properly.